How To Get Blood Off Mattress

June 3, 2019

How To Get Blood Out Of A Mattress: A Complete Step-By-Step Guide

You've got a blood stain on your mattress. Now what? If your bed looks like it was freshly delivered from the set of A Nightmare On Elm Street, you should probably think about purchasing a new mattress and starting over! If that's not an option, you need to learn how to get blood out of a mattress. Luckily for you, even the most intense stains won't stand up to the power of these tough stain-removing methods. Here are seven ways to banish that blood stain! How To Get Blood Out Of A Mattress: First Steps How To Remove Blood Stains How To Get Blood Out Of A Memory Foam Mattress How To Get Dried Blood Out Of A Mattress How To Remove Period Stains From Your Bed Sheets

How To Get Blood Out Of A Mattress: First Steps

Before you tackle that stain, here's what you should do first.
Remove all bed sheets, fitted sheets, pillows, decorative items and anything else that's on your bed.
If you have blood stains on your sheets or bedding, skip forward to read how to get blood out of sheets.
Use a wet cloth to dab away any excess liquid from the stain. Make sure that you use cold water. Hot water and rubbing at the stain are the worst things you can do to remove blood out of a mattress, as both can set the stain and make it harder to remove.
Once you've dabbed at the blood stain, dry the wet area by dabbing at it with a towel. Remember to use firm pats, and don't rub it!
Rinse your cold cloth, and repeat until nothing else can be extracted from the stain.
Skip ahead to read how to remove dry blood from a mattress.

How To Remove Blood Stains

Blood is one of the most notoriously difficult stains to remove because it contains hemoglobin and iron. These two components are especially hard to remove once they oxidise and dry, so it's best to tackle a blood stain while it's still relatively fresh (if possible). Here are six cleaning methods that you can use to remove tough blood stains:

1. Enzyme Cleaner

It might not be natural or homemade, but an enzyme-based cleaner is the best way to get the job done. But be warned — once blood sets, it's harder to remove. Attempt to remove it with common household items, like baking soda, before you visit the store to buy enzyme cleaner. An oxygenated enzyme cleaner is a powerful cleaning solution, available at most grocery stores, which can work on eliminating blood stains. You can also opt for an oxygenated bleach enzyme cleaner, which will break down the stain at a molecular level by oxidizing blood bonds and removing the color from hemoglobin. Follow the directions on your enzyme cleaner, and make sure it's safe to use on upholstery and fabrics. Never apply an enzyme cleaner directly; apply it to a towel and pat it on the stain instead.

2. Baking Soda

baking soda cleaning For enthusiasts of natural, home-made remedies, baking soda and vinegar is a tried-and-tested solution that can budge even the most stubborn of stains. Here's the natural way to remove blood stains from a mattress:

Apply baking soda directly to the stain, then spray the area with white vinegar.
Leave to bubble for 30 minutes.
Use a clean cloth to dab away the solution, or use an upholstery vacuum attachment to clean away residue
Dab with clean, cold water until all traces of the solution have been removed
Be warned: vinegar can have a potent smell, so make sure to rinse and repeat until it's no longer detectable!

3. Corn Starch Mixture

illustration of stain remover

Mix ½ cup of cornstarch with ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide and add one tablespoon of salt to create a thick paste.
Apply directly to the stain and leave it for 30 minutes.
You can use a toothbrush to loosen up the stain after 30 minutes has passed.
Remove paste with a cold, wet, cloth and dab at the mattress until the solution has been fully removed.
Dab any wetness with a clean towel until dry.

3. Hydrogen Peroxide

Mix ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide, 1 tablespoon of liquid detergent or dish soap and one tablespoon of salt to form a paste.
Dab this onto the stain and leave it to dry for at least 30 minutes.
Remove the paste with a kitchen spatula or a spoon.
Apply hydrogen peroxide to a white towel and dab at the blood stain until it's sufficiently lifted.

4. Talcum Powder

talcum powder

Mix talcum powder and water together until a thick paste is formed.
Apply the paste to the stain, then leave until dry.
Brush away the dried paste, or use a vacuum cleaner to remove the leftover solution.

5. Meat Tenderizer

Just to be clear: we mean meat tenderizer powder; not the hammer! Meat tenderizing powder contains papain and bromelain. These natural enzymes can break down proteins at a molecular level. In addition to making meat more tender, it's also a pretty solid choice for a protein-based stain remover. Here's how to use it:

Mix one tablespoon of meat tenderizer with two teaspoons of water for form a paste.
Apply solution to stain and leave to dry.
Remove by brushing away, or with a vacuum cleaner.

6. Ammonia

Ammonia is a blemish-busting beast. It's notorious for cutting through grease and removing tough stains, but be warned. Ammonia can damage silk and wool, and it's also poisonous. Whatever you do, do not mix ammonia with chlorine bleach. This releases chloramine, a highly toxic and potentially fatal substance. Here's one technique you can use to remove a blood stain:

Mix one tablespoon of ammonia into one cup of cold water.
Dip a clean white towel to dip into the ammonia solution, and dab on the stain until the blood has lifted.
Use a clean, damp cloth to dab away any remaining ammonia solution.

How To Get Blood Out Of A Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam is delicate and can take a long time to dry, so you should try to avoid getting your memory foam mattress soaking wet. If you have a blood splotch on your memory foam mattress, you can still use any of the methods listed in this article, but take care to avoid getting it wet. In general, the best solution for stained memory foam will be an enzyme cleaner or a baking soda solution.

How To Get Dried Blood Out Of A Mattress

Getting to a fresh stain right after it happens is the best way to make sure it doesn't leave a lasting impression on your mattress. But sometimes that's not an option. The best way to remove dry blood stains from your mattress is to use a specially-formulated enzyme cleaner. Most of the other techniques featured on this list will also work, but you may have to repeat the steps several times before the stain is no longer noticeable.

How To Remove Period Stains From Your Bed Sheets

The most common cause of blood stains in a bed is due to menstruation. Luckily, sheets are far easier to clean than a mattress! Always try to use white sheets. While this may seem counterintuitive, white sheets are the most practical as they can be easily bleached. If you have blood stains on your sheets, it's best to pre-treat them before you throw everything in the washing machine. Remember: heat sets a stain. Here are three ways to get blood stains out of your sheets:

1. Remove Blood with WD-40

illustration of WD-40 WD-40 is one of the handiest household items! From removing gum in your child's hair to keeping squirrels off a bird feeder, you'd be surprised at how often you'll turn to a trusty can of WD-40. It's also a great stain remover, especially for blood stains. Simply spray the stain with WD-40 until it's fully saturated, then launder as usual.

2. Use Cola on Bloody Sheets

Cola (yes, the soda!) is actually a great stain remover. Cola contains phosphoric and carbonic acid, which can break down tough stains. Just empty a can into your washing machine with your sheets, and voila!

3. Apply Aspirin to Soiled Sheets

Crush up Aspirin and mix with cold water until you've formed a thick paste. Apply to the stains on your sheets and leave for at least 30 minutes. Launder as usual once the paste is fully dry. After you've successfully removed a blood stain, considering purchasing a mattress protector. BedPillows.com's removable mattress cover can be easily cleaned, and will ensure that your mattress is protected from unpleasant stains and lasts longer! Now that you know how to remove blood from a mattress, check out our other articles on how to clean a memory foam pillow and how to clean a memory foam!